Job Discussion Forums

khmerhit · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:02 am Post subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyqtMnVI1Qk

Nabby Adams · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 215

Khmerhit, I am sure I am not the only one who would love to know; How has your life turned out since leaving Cambodia and hoe would you feel about returning?

Just being nosy Smile

khmerhit · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject:

sure--it went downhill for most of the decade 01-08,----edit----

dont worry--be happy Cool

k.ren54 · Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 1 Location: Canada

I have not had the privilege of living in Cambodia, yet. However, I have visited several times now and will be back this year for another 7 to 8 weeks. It's everything you've described. I would love to live and work there. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Cheers
Kim

kiefer · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 268

"Scambodia" is lovely, but made less lovely by the taxi girl trade and junkies.

khmerhit · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:15 am Post subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f4cuxQynvY&NR=1

khmerhit · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:44 am Post subject:

ONION SPECIAL REPORT
New Cambodian Barnes & Noble: Will It Threaten Cambodia's Small Book Shops

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA -- The paint is barely dry on the new Siem Reap Barnes & Noble, a gleaming, $6 million, 60,000-square-foot bookstore/coffeehouse that the American bookselling giant boasts is the finest in this rural village of 2,100. But already a serious question is being raised: Can the new bookstore -- with its enormous selection, discount prices and chic espresso bar -- peacefully co-exist with smaller, independently owned bookstores in the area?

Store manager Amy Kleinert believes the answer is yes. "Barnes & Noble's presence will help local book sales," said Kleinert, who was previously regional manager for Barnes & Noble's Seattle-area stores. "Our store will stimulate an interest in reading, which can only be a good thing for all area book sellers."

Less optimistic is Tuel Cheng, a used-book dealer and small-press operator who was recently forced out of business. "Hun Sen's troops came in the night to burn my books and smashed my son's skull on the type racks," he said. "I ran and hid in the jungle. If they see me printing books again, they will torture me to death."

But for all the debate, the new Barnes & Noble has suffered from nothing so much as overcrowding. At the store's gala grand opening Monday, employees were pleasantly surprised to see thousands of Cambodians massed outside as early as 4 a.m. The instant the doors were unlocked, thousands of eager new customers charged through the doors to browse the latest best-sellers, check out CDs at the music section's 35 listening stations, and wash their clothes in the men's room urinals.

Open less than a week, the store is already drawing rave reviews from countless Cambodian book lovers. "There is good water here," said Lon Nai, a Batdambang-area farmer who journeyed 150 miles for the grand opening. "I can keep my pigs free of the sickness with this water."

"It is always the same temperature in here, not like the tent where my family lives in the jungle," said Pursat resident Chun Baro from a secluded spot deep within the bookstore's "Wellness and Nutrition" section. "I do not care if I am executed for being in a book store, as my father and three brothers were in 1979. I am cool and dry."

In addition to the low prices and friendly atmosphere, Baro praised the store's convenient hours, open until 10 p.m. weekdays and Saturday. "Nightfall is the worst time," he said. "That is when the death squads come out."

Speaking from Barnes & Noble's New York headquarters, John Day, company vice-president in charge of overseas expansion, said that Cambodia represents an outstanding new market for the book chain.

"Cambodia has all the signs of being a book-friendly country," Day said. "Did you know that only one Cambodian in 10,000 has a television set? That, to me, is the hallmark of a literate culture."

Day said that Barnes & Noble tends to do best in progressive, left-leaning cities like Berkeley, CA, and Austin, TX, qualities he sees in Cambodia. "They have that same sort of open-minded, hippie culture there -- communes are very big in Cambodia."

Despite the company's enormous size, Barnes & Noble is very much committed to the communities in which it does business, Day said, and Siem Reap is no exception.

"The Cambodian government has established many exciting-sounding 're-education camps' where both intellectuals and everyday citizens can be sent at any time," Day said. "Well, we at Barnes & Noble have always supported re-education in America, and we intend to extend this policy to our new customers." For every hardcover book sold, Barnes & Noble will donate a dollar to the Cambodian government to help re-educate local children. The store has also worked hard to be accessible to everyone, offering a ramp at the front entrance for its many legless customers. "It's a helping hand, sure," Day said. "But we believe that a helping hand is just plain good business."

As at other Barnes & Nobles, the Siem Reap store has a Local Authors section, which is dominated by the political tracts of noted late-'70s writer Pol Pot. "So far, there hasn't been a whole lot of customer traffic going through the section," assistant manager Ken Woodson said. "Perhaps we need to publicize it more. We've tried to get Pol in for a book signing, but we haven't been able to find him."

khmerhit · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:23 am Post subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oz3PS2TzxM&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38l-lZ7Tm5E&NR=1

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/phnom-penh-cambodia-shooting-range/498617681/?icid=VIDURVTRV02

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/phnom-penh-cambodia-shooting-range/498617681/?icid=VIDURVTRV02

try it and see Cool

khmerhit · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:16 am Post subject:

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:rUlEbSf9lDcJ:uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Cambodian_banana_University+billy+bob+cambodia&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca

try it yo-- Laughing

typo · Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 11

khmerhit:

you should probably be advised that The Onion is a satirical newspaper, and that the article you posted would tend to detract from a potential visitor's interest in Cambodia, rather than attract them.

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

To those who have lived in Cambodia,

What is the situation as regards swimming pools, gyms, general places to excsercise and get some sun. When I lived in Thailand, the apartment complex had a nice pool. Also, there were a few gyms and loads of public swimming pools.

What do ex-pats do when they want to swim or read a book by the pool?

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:21 am Post subject:

no problem--lots of pools and gyms Surprised

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

My initial research is looking promising khmerhit. Phnom Penh may be the place I've been looking for. Would you recommend any books about Cambodia? I found:

'A Dragon Apparent' by Normal Lewis, and 'I have Seen the Wold Begin' Carsten Jensen.

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject:

Daniel --there is a list of books at andy brouwers site---

http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/bookrev.html

regards
kh

pm me if you want more info Surprised

daniel_hayes · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 177

Thanks khmerit. Brilliant link. I will take some time to read all pertinent entries on Andy's blog. Found 3-4 interesting books on the link.

I particularly like 'The King's Last Song' for historical fiction, and Michael Freeman's 'Cambodia' for history.

Phnom Penh has assaulted my imagination. It feels right for me.